| Tired of the same old boring routine at your | | | | shortage.Another incentive that companies are |
| everyday job? For a change of pace consider | | | | striving to fulfill is lowering the amount of |
| becoming a semi tractor-trailer driver. With | | | | time that the drivers spend out on the road |
| a national shortage of drivers, this career | | | | away from their families. Traditionally over |
| is one that comes with its own brand of job | | | | the road drivers would spend weeks away from |
| security insurance.Earning a license to drive | | | | home, not so anymore. Many companies are |
| the big rigs is not that difficult of a task. | | | | striving to ensure that their drivers are |
| The demand for over the road drivers remains | | | | home for the weekend. This is accomplished by |
| high and the pay for operating a | | | | having the drivers perform a relay type run |
| tractor-trailer is high. The benefits can be | | | | where one driver picks up where another |
| incredible, too, making this career a solid | | | | leaves off. This has made the job more |
| choice.What are the requirements? To operate | | | | inviting to drivers that would otherwise turn |
| in interstate commerce, a driver must be at | | | | it down.Over the road drivers generally make |
| least 21 years of age and pass a rigid | | | | around $35,000 a year, but pay rates can vary |
| physical examination once every 2 years. | | | | with the type of driving and years of |
| Drivers are further required to submit to | | | | experience. In order to fill the shortage of |
| testing for drug and alcohol use, including | | | | drivers many companies expect to raise the |
| unannounced random testing. Drivers of trucks | | | | pay rate for many of the current drivers and |
| with a weight rating of over 26,000 pounds | | | | start new drivers out at a higher rate. Good |
| must obtain a Commercial Driver's License, | | | | companies also offer their drivers' |
| also referred to as a CDL, by passing a | | | | benefits.An online search of the Internet can |
| rigorous test of their knowledge of safety | | | | produce many different schools for those |
| regulations and display the ability to drive | | | | wishing to learn more about becoming an over |
| one of the large vehicles. Drug and alcohol | | | | the road driver. These schools offer to teach |
| convictions or combinations of various | | | | students what they need to know to obtain |
| serious driving violations can draw temporary | | | | their CDL in as little as four to five weeks. |
| or even permanent loss of driving | | | | Many of the schools offer job placement so |
| privileges.Because of the large demand for | | | | that their students can start to work right |
| freight to be moved, the job outlook for a | | | | away and several of these companies will |
| professional over the road driver is very | | | | reimburse the students the cost of their |
| good. Currently the federal government has | | | | tuition.Good pay mixed with bright job |
| estimated that there is a shortage of around | | | | outlook makes for an exciting ever-changing |
| 80,000 over the road drivers. Trucking | | | | career. Being an over the road |
| companies throughout the United States are | | | | tractor-trailer can be a thrilling job for |
| beginning to offer drivers better incentives | | | | anyone that is tired of the same old daily |
| and higher pay in order to fill this massive | | | | routine that now fills their days. |